Scientology: A look at the religion that is gaining worldwide attention

Sunday

Jul 3, 2005 at 12:01 AMJul 3, 2005 at 1:54 AM

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard lived a varied and adventurous life, one that perhaps could only have been written by someone with a vivid imagination.

A Navy brat, Hubbard became a prolific writer of stories and novellas/sin western, science-fiction and fantasy magazines in the '30s after dropping out of George Washington University in 1932.

"Fear," a psychological horror story, and "Final Blackout," set in a futuristic Europe, are often noted as among his best pulp work.

The prodigious "Battlefield: Earth," written much later in his life, was made into a much-maligned film by Scientology adherent John Travolta in 2000.

Although Scientologists revere him as an educator, philosopher and humanitarian, his life was dogged with legal problems, the suggestion that Scientology was primarily a basis rather than a religion, and accusations of autobiographical inaccuracy.

His estranged son L. Ron Hubbard Jr. -- who later changed his name to Ron DeWolf -- said in a PBS interview in 1983, "Ninety-nine percent of what my father ever wrote or said about himself is totally untrue." At the time, the younger Hubbard did not even know if his father, who had gone into hiding, was still alive.

Hubbard's own writings called into question the/sbusiness-like practices of Scientology.

In a 1980 Reader's Digest article, "Scientology: Anatomy of a Frightening Cult," writer/sEugene H. Methvin quoted Hubbard as having said in the 1940s, "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."

A 1962 policy letter, written by Hubbard said "Scientology 1970 is being planned on a religious organization basis throughout the world. This will not upset in any way the usual activities of any organization. It is entirely a matter for accountants and solicitors."

Feeling besieged by detractors, Hubbard is said to have created "Fair Game," designed to pull out all stops against those Scientology deemed enemies.

Superior Court Judge Paul Breckinridge, ruling in the Church of Scientology of California vs. Gerald Armstrong, June 20, 1984, wrote:

"In addition to violating and abusing its own members' civil rights, the organization [Scientology] over the years with its 'Fair Game' doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the Church whom it perceives as enemies. The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and the bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder."

In 1967, Hubbard resigned as executive director of the Church of Scientology and anointed himself Commodore of a fleet of Scientologist-crewed ships, cruising the Mediterranean Sea for eight years. There he formed the paramilitary group known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org, which apparently ran the Scientology operations. For a while in the '70s he lived in Florida.

In 1977, the FBI raided Scientology offices in Florida and California, seeking evidence of a Church of Scientology spy network. The founder's wife, Mary Sue Hubbard, along with a dozen other top Scientology officials, were convicted in 1979 of conspiracy against the United States government. Hubbard was named by prosecutors as an un-indicted co-conspirator.

He withdrew from the public in 1981, and retired to a ranch north of San Luis Obispo, Calif, where he lived until dying of a stroke Jan. 24, 1986, in an expensive Bluebird motor home at the ranch.

The Church of Scientology announced that Hubbard had deliberately "discarded the body" to do "higher level spiritual research," unencumbered by mortal confines.

By Mark Hughes Cobb

Staff Writer

If asked for the link between Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Isaac Hayes, Jenna Elfman and Beck, a logical guess would be: superstar.

All of the above are among the more public faces of Scientology, a religion with modern origins in the lectures and writings of L. Ron Hubbard, who began public life as a writer of pulp and science fiction.